Entry level healthcare jobs are roles you can start with a high school diploma or a short training course, such as patient care assistant, nursing assistant, home health aide, phlebotomist and medical records specialist. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects healthcare occupations to grow "much faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035", with about 1.9 million openings a year. Median pay for healthcare support occupations was $38,340 in May 2025, and some hospitals pay you while they train you.
This guide compares the main no-degree roles on entry education, pay and growth, explains the training rules that apply, and shows where to apply.
Entry Level Healthcare Jobs Compared
Many guides still quote the older 2024–34 projections. These are the current BLS figures:
| Job | Typical entry education | Median pay, May 2025 | Growth 2025–35 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home health and personal care aide | High school diploma or equivalent | $35,800 ($17.21/hr) | 18% | 760,500 |
| Nursing assistant and orderly | State-approved training for nursing assistants | $41,870 ($20.13/hr) | 3% | 203,300 |
| Medical assistant | Postsecondary nondegree award | $45,690 ($21.97/hr) | 13% | 109,700 |
| Phlebotomist | Postsecondary nondegree award | $45,230 ($21.75/hr) | 7% | 18,000 |
| Medical equipment preparer | High school diploma or equivalent | $47,700 | 11% | 10,700 |
| Dental assistant | Postsecondary nondegree award | $48,070 ($23.11/hr) | 7% | 53,000 |
| Medical records specialist | Postsecondary nondegree award | $51,140 ($24.59/hr) | 8% | 14,000 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections, 2025–35, pay from May 2025, September 2026. Medical equipment preparers are listed among occupations not covered in detail.
Home health and personal care aides have by far the most openings, but they are also the lowest paid. Medical records specialists pay the most here, and the job is administrative rather than hands-on patient care.
The Roles, One by One
1. Patient care assistant or nursing assistant
Nursing assistants help patients eat, bathe, dress and move, and take basic measurements for nurses. Hospitals use titles such as patient care technician or patient care assistant for similar work; BLS counts it under nursing assistants and orderlies. Nursing assistants earned a median of $42,260 in May 2025.
The training rule is stricter than most guides say. In nursing homes that take Medicare or Medicaid, a nurse aide must complete at least 75 clock hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 483.152). BLS adds that nursing assistants "must be on the state registry to work in a nursing home". Orderlies, who mainly move patients and equipment, "do not need a license".
2. Home health and personal care aide
Aides help older adults and people with disabilities with daily activities at home or in group homes. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training as typical, and this is the fastest-growing role in the table at 18%. The trade-off is pay: a median of $35,800 a year.
3. Medical assistant
Medical assistants take patient histories and vital signs and handle scheduling in clinics and physician offices. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education. That matters in practice: a Cleveland Clinic medical assistant posting checked in September 2026 required graduation from an approved medical assisting program and a clinical externship, paying $19.75 to $27.75 an hour. Our Medical Assistant Jobs in USA guide covers certification in detail.
4. Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, donations and transfusions. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award for entry and says: "States may require that phlebotomists complete an accredited training program, have a license or certification, or meet other requirements." Check with your state licensing agency before paying for a course.
5. Medical records specialist
Medical records specialists organise, code and maintain patient records in electronic health record systems. It is the best-paid role in the table at a median of $51,140, and usually needs a postsecondary certificate.
6. Medical equipment preparer
Preparers clean, sterilise and assemble medical instruments. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent with moderate-term on-the-job training, a May 2025 median of $47,700 and 11% projected growth.
7. Dental assistant
Dental assistants prepare patients and instruments and keep records in dental offices. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award for entry, with a median of $48,070.
Will a Hospital Train You?
Often, yes. In BLS's 2025 Occupational Requirements Survey, on-the-job training was required for 86.5 percent of healthcare support workers, and no minimum education was required for 30.7 percent.
- Mayo Clinic advertises a Patient Care Assistant role marked "Paid Training Provided" in Rochester, Minnesota, at $21.96 to $29.02 an hour based on its union contract. It asks for 12 college credits, or a high school diploma or GED, and prefers completed nursing assistant training. Basic Life Support certification is included in orientation.
- Cleveland Clinic says many people who become patient care nursing assistants "have no previous medical or clinical experience", with an orientation period of about four weeks.
- HCA Healthcare runs a careers section for people starting a healthcare career. Check each posting for its current training and experience requirements.
Postings close and change, so confirm the pay and requirements on the live advertisement.
Skills Healthcare Employers Look For
- Communication: in the 2025 survey, 47.0 percent of healthcare support workers had to speak with people outside their team constantly, every few minutes.
- Patient privacy: the HIPAA Privacy Rule "requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information", and new staff are trained on it.
- Attention to detail: patient identification, specimen labels and records have to be right every time.
- Physical stamina: patient care roles involve long shifts on your feet, lifting and moving patients.
- Reliability: hospitals and care homes run around the clock, so night and weekend shifts are common.
How to Get an Entry Level Healthcare Job, Step by Step
- Pick patient care or admin. Patient care means nursing assistant, aide or phlebotomy; admin means medical records or unit secretary roles.
- Check the training rule before you pay for anything. Nursing home aides need a state-approved programme of at least 75 hours, and phlebotomy rules differ by state.
- Look for paid training first. Search hospital careers sites for "paid training" or "patient care assistant" before paying for a course yourself.
- Get Basic Life Support (CPR) certification. Many postings ask for it, and some employers include it in orientation.
- Write your resume around transferable skills. Customer service, caring for relatives, volunteering and reliability all count.
- Apply on the employer's own site and expect a background check and health screening before you start.
Where to Apply
Apply through employers' official careers sites, where the job description and requirements are the employer's own:
- Mayo Clinic: jobs.mayoclinic.org
- Cleveland Clinic: jobs.clevelandclinic.org
- HCA Healthcare: careers.hcahealthcare.com
Local hospital systems, nursing homes, home care agencies, blood donation centres and laboratories hire for the same roles. For a wider view of pay and licensing across the sector, see our healthcare jobs page, and for other first jobs, the entry level jobs page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest healthcare job to get with no experience?
Home health and personal care aide roles typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training, and they have about 760,500 openings a year. Hospital patient care assistant roles with paid training are another direct way in.
Can I get a healthcare job with only a high school diploma?
Yes. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical for home health and personal care aides and medical equipment preparers, and the 2025 Occupational Requirements Survey found no minimum education was required for 30.7 percent of healthcare support workers.
How much do entry level healthcare jobs pay?
BLS May 2025 medians range from $35,800 a year for home health and personal care aides to $51,140 for medical records specialists. The median for all healthcare support occupations was $38,340.
How long is nursing assistant training?
For nurse aides in nursing homes, federal rules require at least 75 clock hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, followed by a competency evaluation. Some states require more hours.
Do phlebotomists need a license?
It depends on the state. BLS says states may require phlebotomists to complete an accredited training program, hold a license or certification, or meet other requirements, so check with your state licensing agency.
Are healthcare jobs in demand in the US?
Yes. BLS projects healthcare occupations to grow much faster than average from 2025 to 2035, with about 1.9 million openings a year. Home health and personal care aides are projected to grow 18 percent.
Do hospitals offer paid training for entry level jobs?
Some do. Mayo Clinic advertises a Patient Care Assistant role with paid training at $21.96 to $29.02 an hour, and Cleveland Clinic runs an orientation of about four weeks for new patient care nursing assistants.
Is a medical assistant job entry level?
Partly. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as typical, and many employers, including a Cleveland Clinic posting checked in 2026, require completion of a medical assisting program before you start.
People Also Search For
Healthcare jobs with no experience
Home health aide, personal care aide and patient care assistant roles with paid training.
Healthcare jobs without a degree
Nursing assistant, phlebotomist, medical records specialist and medical equipment preparer.
Patient care assistant paid training
Offered by some hospital systems, including Mayo Clinic, with pay during training.
CNA training hours
At least 75 clock hours for nursing home nurse aides under federal rules, including 16 supervised.
Home health aide salary
A median of $35,800 a year, or $17.21 an hour, in May 2025.
Phlebotomist salary
A median of $45,230 a year, or $21.75 an hour, in May 2025.
Medical records specialist salary
A median of $51,140 a year, the highest of the no-degree roles compared here.
Fastest growing entry level healthcare jobs
Home health and personal care aides at 18 percent and medical assistants at 13 percent to 2035.
More Job Guides
Looking at a specific healthcare career? These go deeper:
- Medical Assistant Jobs in USA — training programmes, certification and clinic pay.
- Dental Assistant Jobs in USA — one of the few clinical roles some states let you start with no formal education at all.
- Registered Nurse Jobs in USA — the degree and NCLEX route once you are ready to move up.
- Nurse Jobs in the US — nursing roles and licensing across the country.
- Physical Therapist Jobs in USA — a longer route into patient care.
- Medical Records Clerk Jobs in USA — a non-clinical entry route where a certificate, not experience, sets the pay.
- Clinic Receptionist Jobs in USA — the one healthcare role BLS lists with no experience needed at entry.
- Healthcare Support Jobs in UK — the same entry roles under NHS rules.
This article is for general informational purposes. Pay, projections, training rules and job postings change over time. Confirm the current position with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, your state licensing agency and the employer's own posting before relying on it.
